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Produce maple syrup

Produce maple syrup
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Collect sap from maple trees, filter and boil it down with adult supervision to make natural maple syrup, learning about trees and evaporation.

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Step-by-step guide to produce maple syrup

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How to Make Maple Syrup at Home | Collecting, Boiling & Filtering Sap

What you need
Adult supervision required, candy or cooking thermometer, cheesecloth or fine coffee filter, clean container to collect sap, clean food-grade bucket with lid, clean jars for syrup, heat source (stove or outdoor burner), ladle or long spoon, large stainless-steel pot, maple tree at least 10-inch diameter, tapping kit with 7/16-inch drill bit and food-grade spile

Step 1

Choose a healthy maple tree that is at least 10 inches in diameter.

Step 2

Ask an adult to check the tree and get permission to tap it.

Step 3

Measure and mark a spot 2 to 4 feet above the ground on the trunk.

Step 4

Have an adult drill a clean hole 1.5 to 2 inches deep with a 7/16-inch bit at a slight upward angle.

Step 5

Have an adult gently tap a food-grade spile into the hole until it fits snugly.

Step 6

Hang a clean food-grade bucket with a lid under the spile so sap can drip in and stay clean.

Step 7

Every day, pour the sap from the bucket into a clean container and keep the sap cool until you have enough.

Step 8

Filter the collected sap through cheesecloth or a coffee filter into a large stainless-steel pot.

Step 9

With an adult, bring the filtered sap to a steady rolling boil on your heat source.

Step 10

While boiling, have the adult skim any foam off the surface with a spoon.

Step 11

Keep boiling and watch the thermometer until it reaches about 219°F (104°C) or about 7°F above your local boiling point, then turn off the heat.

Step 12

Let the syrup cool slightly and test thickness by placing a small spoonful on a cold plate to see if it coats the spoon.

Step 13

With an adult's help, pour the hot syrup into clean jars leaving a little space at the top.

Step 14

Seal and label the jars with the date and store them in the refrigerator or freezer.

Step 15

Share a photo and story of your finished maple syrup on DIY.org.

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

If I can't find a 7/16-inch drill bit or a food-grade spile, what can we substitute?

Have an adult use the nearest-size drill bit within about 1/32 inch and a certified food-grade spout or food-grade silicone tubing fitted snugly into the 1.5–2 inch hole so sap can drip into the food-grade bucket.

Sap isn't flowing into the bucket — what should we check or fix?

Check that the adult drilled a clean 1.5–2 inch hole at a slight upward angle with the 7/16-inch bit, that the food-grade spile is tapped in snugly (not loose or clogged), and that the tree is healthy and being tapped during sap-flow conditions.

How can we adapt the activity for different age groups?

Preschoolers can help spot and mark a healthy maple 2–4 feet up and hang the clean food-grade bucket, school-age kids can measure, filter sap through cheesecloth or a coffee filter, and teens can help monitor the boil to about 219°F (104°C) and pour hot syrup into jars with an adult.

How can we enhance or personalize our homemade maple syrup project?

Experiment with syrup thickness by testing a spoonful on a cold plate, add small flavored batches (like a splash of vanilla or a cinnamon stick after boiling), and decorate and label the sealed jars with the date before sharing your photo and story on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to produce maple syrup

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Ever Wonder How Maple Syrup Is Made? | Highlights Kids

4 Videos

Facts about maple sugaring

❄️ Sap flows best during freeze–thaw cycles: cold nights below freezing and warmer days in late winter/early spring.

🔥 Boiling evaporates water out of the sap; finished maple syrup is concentrated to about 66% sugar.

🍯 Indigenous peoples of northeastern North America were making maple syrup long before European settlers learned the methods.

💧 It takes about 40 liters (around 10 gallons) of sap to make 1 liter (about 1 quart) of maple syrup — roughly a 40:1 ratio.

🍁 Sugar maple trees store starch in winter that turns into sugar in spring — that sweetens the sap!

How do you make maple syrup with kids?

To make maple syrup, identify healthy sugar maples, drill a small hole and insert a spile to collect sap in buckets or bags. Gather sap regularly, strain through cheesecloth or a fine filter, then boil the clear sap outdoors in a large shallow pan until it reduces to a thick, amber syrup (roughly 30–50 gallons of sap per gallon of syrup depending on sugar). Cool, test for sweetness, and bottle. Always have an adult handle drilling and boiling.

What materials do I need to make maple syrup?

You’ll need spiles/taps and a small drill, clean buckets or sap bags with lids, a hook or hanger, cheesecloth or a fine filter, a large shallow boiling pan or evaporator, outdoor heat source (propane or wood fire), long-handled ladle, thermometer (optional), clean glass jars and lids, funnel, and adult supervision. Protective gloves and eye protection for adults are recommended. Keep a pot or cooler to store fresh sap until boiling.

What ages is making maple syrup suitable for?

This activity is great for children 3+ with adult supervision, but tasks vary by age. Toddlers (3–5) can watch, taste, and help collect buckets with help. Ages 6–9 can assist filtering, labeling jars, and identifying trees. Ages 10–14 can measure sap, help with taps under supervision, and learn about evaporation and ratios. Teens can safely participate in drilling and monitoring boiling with direct adult oversight. Never let young children handle drills or boiling sap.

Safety tips for making maple syrup with children

Safety first: always have adults drill taps and manage boiling outdoors to avoid indoor steam hazards. Keep kids at a safe distance from fires and hot pans; use gloves and eye protection when handling hot equipment. Strain sap to remove debris and refrigerate fresh sap; boil promptly to prevent spoilage. Use sturdy containers and stable supports for pans. Teach children fire safety and never leave a boil unattended. Have a first-aid kit and water nearby.
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